Environmental
Hazards
Through research and investigation, we will look at chemicals used in everyday products and identify what impact those chemicals could potentially have on both our health and the environment in which we live.
What is “Environmental Hazard?”
Environmental hazard is the state of events which has the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environment and adversely affect people's health.
There are 5 types of Environmental Hazards:
1. Chemical
● Ex: Lead, Pesticides, Carbon Monoxide, Cleaning Products
2. Physical
● Ex: Electricity, Loud Noise, Pressure, Height
3. Mechanical
● Ex: Power Tools, Motors
4. Biological
● Ex: Anthrax, Rabies, AIDS, Flu Virus
5. Psychological
● Ex: Stress, Intimidation, Violence, Burnout
Environmental Hazards
For this project, we will be looking at Chemical Hazards and how the exposure of certain chemicals can negatively impact our health and our environment.
What is a chemical hazard?
Any substance that has the potential to cause harm when exposed to humans and/or animals. Chemical hazards can exist naturally or they can be man made. Water, air and soil have the potential to contain harmful chemicals depending on what they are exposed to.
Are there hazardous chemicals around me?
The air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil from which we grow our crops are all closely monitored by several state and government agencies. These agencies are in place to monitor and protect our environment and prevent the exposure and spread of harmful chemicals that cause illness.
Aside from the chemicals contained in our environment, we are also exposed to chemicals contained in the products we use in our everyday lives; bleach, paint thinner, disinfectants, pesticides, ammonia, furniture polish, etc. When handled properly, household products can be perfectly safe to use. When handled improperly, these same products can have short and long term health impacts.
How can harmful chemicals enter my body?
There are 4 ways in which chemicals can enter the human body and cause damage:
1. Absorption - You absorb the chemical through your skin and/or eyes
2. Inhalation - You breathe the chemical in through your lungs
3. Ingestion - You swallow the chemical through your gastrointestinal tract
4. Injection - You inject the chemical into your bloodstream
How can I protect myself?
Read the Label! The key to preventing harmful exposure is to handle all chemicals properly. Every product in your house should contain a label that lists the chemical ingredients, directions for use, warning (potential dangers), and what to do if absorbed, swallowed or inhaled.
Environmental Hazards
In Chemistry, the goal is to:
● Increase awareness regarding the potential hazards of chemicals you might use or see in your home.
● Learn to read product labels and identify ingredients that could potentially cause harm.
● Understand safe handling procedures based on label warnings; gloves, ventilation, mask, etc.
● Know how to react if a product is handled improperly; skin exposure, eye exposure, if swallowed or inhaled.
● Research and discuss current and local news stories about toxic spills and/or exposure due to unsafe practices.
In Humanities, the goal is to:
● Examine environmental hazards and their impact on local and global populations
● Identify and research a local community adversely affected by environmental toxins
○ Students will write a monologue or poem that expresses their understanding of the impact on the community they identified
● Discuss environmental justice, is “America killing us equitably?”
○ Environmental Justice articles: http://www.publicintegrity.org/news/Environmental-justice
Using what you’ve learned in both Chemistry and Humanities, students will form teams of 6-7 to remodel one of eight areas in the 10th grade commons. The goal for remodeling the commons is to create areas that are comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and that can be functionally used to display future project work. We will only be using materials that have been identified as “safe to use” based on testing and research.
In chemistry, we will:
● Have groups choose one of the 8 areas to redesign. Each area must incorporate 3 materials; metal, wood and glass.
○ Each group will identify the chemical components of the materials they’re using. What chemical properties make up metal, wood, glass? What are the characteristics of those properties?
● Each group will manipulate ONE of their three materials using temperature, pressure, or water. What happened to that material when it was manipulated? Why did this happen? Which properties of the material explain this result?
● Each group will manipulate ONE of their three products with a man made chemical product. Prior to using this chemical, you must identify the ingredients, warnings, safe handling procedures and what to do if handled improperly.
In Humanities, we will:
● Partner each team with a college student from a design program at UCSD, School of Architecture and Design.
● Study aesthetic and design principles
● Field trips to Little Italy, North Park (Influx bench) to look at shops and stores that use reclaimed materials and industrial design.
● Draft designs and work with college student for feedback on design and materials.
● Line the stairwell in the 10th grade commons with fact sheets on all of the materials used in each of the 8 areas and before and after photos.
EXHIBITION
The end product will be a newly remodeled, functional space that displays your understanding of the materials used and how they were manipulated both organically and chemically. Drawings of your design process as well as your short stories, poems and/or monologue will also be showcased at exhibition.
Hazards
Through research and investigation, we will look at chemicals used in everyday products and identify what impact those chemicals could potentially have on both our health and the environment in which we live.
What is “Environmental Hazard?”
Environmental hazard is the state of events which has the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environment and adversely affect people's health.
There are 5 types of Environmental Hazards:
1. Chemical
● Ex: Lead, Pesticides, Carbon Monoxide, Cleaning Products
2. Physical
● Ex: Electricity, Loud Noise, Pressure, Height
3. Mechanical
● Ex: Power Tools, Motors
4. Biological
● Ex: Anthrax, Rabies, AIDS, Flu Virus
5. Psychological
● Ex: Stress, Intimidation, Violence, Burnout
Environmental Hazards
For this project, we will be looking at Chemical Hazards and how the exposure of certain chemicals can negatively impact our health and our environment.
What is a chemical hazard?
Any substance that has the potential to cause harm when exposed to humans and/or animals. Chemical hazards can exist naturally or they can be man made. Water, air and soil have the potential to contain harmful chemicals depending on what they are exposed to.
Are there hazardous chemicals around me?
The air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil from which we grow our crops are all closely monitored by several state and government agencies. These agencies are in place to monitor and protect our environment and prevent the exposure and spread of harmful chemicals that cause illness.
Aside from the chemicals contained in our environment, we are also exposed to chemicals contained in the products we use in our everyday lives; bleach, paint thinner, disinfectants, pesticides, ammonia, furniture polish, etc. When handled properly, household products can be perfectly safe to use. When handled improperly, these same products can have short and long term health impacts.
How can harmful chemicals enter my body?
There are 4 ways in which chemicals can enter the human body and cause damage:
1. Absorption - You absorb the chemical through your skin and/or eyes
2. Inhalation - You breathe the chemical in through your lungs
3. Ingestion - You swallow the chemical through your gastrointestinal tract
4. Injection - You inject the chemical into your bloodstream
How can I protect myself?
Read the Label! The key to preventing harmful exposure is to handle all chemicals properly. Every product in your house should contain a label that lists the chemical ingredients, directions for use, warning (potential dangers), and what to do if absorbed, swallowed or inhaled.
Environmental Hazards
In Chemistry, the goal is to:
● Increase awareness regarding the potential hazards of chemicals you might use or see in your home.
● Learn to read product labels and identify ingredients that could potentially cause harm.
● Understand safe handling procedures based on label warnings; gloves, ventilation, mask, etc.
● Know how to react if a product is handled improperly; skin exposure, eye exposure, if swallowed or inhaled.
● Research and discuss current and local news stories about toxic spills and/or exposure due to unsafe practices.
In Humanities, the goal is to:
● Examine environmental hazards and their impact on local and global populations
● Identify and research a local community adversely affected by environmental toxins
○ Students will write a monologue or poem that expresses their understanding of the impact on the community they identified
● Discuss environmental justice, is “America killing us equitably?”
○ Environmental Justice articles: http://www.publicintegrity.org/news/Environmental-justice
Using what you’ve learned in both Chemistry and Humanities, students will form teams of 6-7 to remodel one of eight areas in the 10th grade commons. The goal for remodeling the commons is to create areas that are comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and that can be functionally used to display future project work. We will only be using materials that have been identified as “safe to use” based on testing and research.
In chemistry, we will:
● Have groups choose one of the 8 areas to redesign. Each area must incorporate 3 materials; metal, wood and glass.
○ Each group will identify the chemical components of the materials they’re using. What chemical properties make up metal, wood, glass? What are the characteristics of those properties?
● Each group will manipulate ONE of their three materials using temperature, pressure, or water. What happened to that material when it was manipulated? Why did this happen? Which properties of the material explain this result?
● Each group will manipulate ONE of their three products with a man made chemical product. Prior to using this chemical, you must identify the ingredients, warnings, safe handling procedures and what to do if handled improperly.
In Humanities, we will:
● Partner each team with a college student from a design program at UCSD, School of Architecture and Design.
● Study aesthetic and design principles
● Field trips to Little Italy, North Park (Influx bench) to look at shops and stores that use reclaimed materials and industrial design.
● Draft designs and work with college student for feedback on design and materials.
● Line the stairwell in the 10th grade commons with fact sheets on all of the materials used in each of the 8 areas and before and after photos.
EXHIBITION
The end product will be a newly remodeled, functional space that displays your understanding of the materials used and how they were manipulated both organically and chemically. Drawings of your design process as well as your short stories, poems and/or monologue will also be showcased at exhibition.